Characterization of Anoikis-Resistant Cells in Mouse Colonic Epithelium

Anoikis is a form of apoptosis triggered by inadequate or inappropriate cell matrix contacts. Anoikis resistance has been utilized to isolate adult stem or progenitor cell populations from various tissues. The aim of this study was to characterize the stem or progenitor cell markers expressed in anoikis-resistant cells isolated from mouse colonic epithelium. Mouse colonic epithelial cells were isolated by Ca2+-depletion, and anoikis-resistant cells were obtained by culturing the cells in ultra-low attachment dishes. Flow cytometry analysis showed that anoikis-resistant cells are positive for the epithelial cell marker CD326, but negative for the hematopoietic cell marker CD45, eliminating the possibility of hematopoietic cell contamination. The majority of anoikis-resistant cells were also positive for the stem or progenitor cell markers CD133 and DCLK1 by immunofluorescent analysis. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that anoikis-resistant cells express +4 position cell marker Hopx, but did not express the other reported stem or progenitor cell markers, Lgr5, Musashi1, Bmi1, mTert and Olfm4. CD133 and DCLK1 double positive cells were observed both apical and basal crypts in mouse proximal colonic tissues. Together, anoikis-resistant cells in mouse colon epithelium were shown to be positive for CD 133, DCLK1, Hopx and CD326, but negative for CD45, Lgr5, Musashi1, Bmi1, mTert and Olfm4. This study has shown a possible approach to isolating stem cells from the intestinal epithelium.